AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Phoenix Mountains Preserve

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

6.4 mi · ▲ 1,887 ft · 3 hr 5 min

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Phoenix Mountains Preserve near Doubletree Canyon, AZ. It climbs 1,887 ft, with sections as steep as 38% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,529 – 2,418 ft · steepest grade: 38%7.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.55738, -111.98241
Nearest town Doubletree Canyon, AZ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

#100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail

6.4 mi · ▲ 1,887 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Elevation 1,530–2,419 ft

Out & Back · Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Trailhead: 33.55738, -111.98241

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 643 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading N.
  6. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 200 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  10. 250 ftSharp left onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  12. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto #1A - Perl Charles Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  23. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  24. 0.1 miContinue straight onto #100 - Charles M. Christiansen Trail, heading E.
  25. 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
  26. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  28. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  29. 200 ftTurn right onto #8 - Quartz Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  30. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  34. 350 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/100-charles-m-christiansen-trail-out-back-10-km-ad01

Trail surface

69% dirt31% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 5:51 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 643 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Doubletree Canyon, Arizona